MATERIALS AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Hess is a brand committed to create a new fashion era, supporting artisans by developing a fair-trade supply chain where men and nature are harmonically integrated, always following the principles of social sustainability.

That’s the reason why we opt for natural fabrics instead of man-made fibers. Here you can find more details about our favorite materials and techniques:

ERI SILK

Also known as Ahimsa Silk or Peace Silk, Eri is the only wildly occurring silk yarn that can be processed without killing the silkworm. It was widely disseminated by Mahatma Gandhi and his followers due to its non-violent origins.

We use hand-spun and handwoven Eri silk created by 7Weaves. Everything is grown, harvested and naturally dyed along the Loharghat Forest Range in the Assamese region of Indo-Burma.

Indigenous communities have been working with silk for centuries and Assam is home to three of the four wild silks existing today. The entire process is handcrafted by high skilled artisans, who can weave only 1.5 m of fabric daily.

BLOCK PRINT

Block printing is an ancient printmaking technique, dating back to many centuries ago. In it’s essence, block print is all about stamping lengths of fabric using hand-carved wood blocks.

It was widely spread in Asia and remains being practiced today, especially in Rajasthan, Jaipur being known as home to the world’s finest printers. In order to create a pattern, its design is first transferred and carved on wooden blocks.

After carefully carving, the next step is printing the motifs on the surface, assuring that our colorful dreams will come true. There are a few different techniques that can be used to guarantee the best results.

For our first collection, we are using a method called discharge printing. Since it’s a completely artisanal technique, the fabric will never be exactly the same. Small color variations and imperfections are not just expected but also welcome. After all, that’s what makes our creations so unique.

Block Print Hess

EMBROIDERY

The art of embroidering is intrinsic to human nature, playing an important role in many cultures.

Being rooted on sustainable materials and artisanal techniques, we only use biodegradable threads that are transformed into mesmerizing designs through the hands of our partner artisans in India.

By choosing to display either hand embroidery or hand-operated machine embroidery, we pay homage to global cultural heritage and help keeping this form of creative expression alive with a modern twist.

HANDWOVEN COTTON

Khadi is a term used to describe the finest hand-spun and handwoven cotton in India. It is known as a symbol of resistance, popularized by Mahatma Gandhi who called for a boycott of all British textiles, thus transforming the spinning charkha in a national symbol of freedom. Till today, this craft remains in full operation and it can be praised as one of the most sustainable fabrics available.

Considering that the traditional spinning and weaving method is made with a foot-operated pedal, it doesn't require any source of electricity or machinery, which makes khadi a good option for its low carbon footprint.

Another interesting fact about the material remains on its low water consumption: while 1 meter of mill-produced cotton requires more than 50 liters of water, the same length of khadi cotton takes only 3 liters to be produced.